Among the various sporting offerings through the Great Bend Recreation Commission, Teqball will be coming soon.

The GBRC board was treated to a short introductory video of the sport preceding Executive Director Chris Umphres’ explanation of the fast-paced tabletop game and its anticipated presence in the community.

“I asked the Great Bend soccer coach if he thought he had players skilled enough to play it, and he said that the kids would definitely have fun doing it,” Umphres noted. He said GBRC received a grant from the Teqball company in an effort to grow the sport nationwide. GBRC paid about $150 in shipping costs for both an indoor and outdoor table with delivery expected soon.

What is Teqball?

A ball sport that combines elements of soccer and table tennis, the game can be played between two players as a singles game, or between four players as doubles or mixed doubles teams. Invented in Hungary by three soccer enthusiasts, the sport has since taken Europe by storm and after two world-class competitions, is being debated for Olympic inclusion.

The essence of the game centers on the playing surface, which resembles a table tennis foldable. Former professional soccer player Gabor Borsanyl, one of the game’s three inventors, realized that the flat table surface used initially resulted in the soccer ball not bouncing toward players, so that the game was not as enjoyable. After curving the surface slightly in an upside-down parabola, the ball would then bounce more readily to the feet. In Teqball, arms and hands are not used in the game.

It is also forbidden to touch or return the ball with the same body part consecutively, adding more skill to the game.

The first successful table was designed in 2014 and the sport introduced in Budapest on Oct. 16, 2016. 

A match consists of the best-of-three games at 12 points each. 

Teqball locations

A permanent fiberglass Teqball table will be located at Heizer Park, while the portable model may be used at the City Auditorium, Umphres said.

“It’s something else that we can throw out there to see if we can get more kids involved,” Umphres said. Estimated cost of the permanent table, were it to be bought new, is about $3,500, while the value of the portable table is about $1,500.

Other action items

The Master Planning Services Agreement by Athco LLC was unanimously approved by the commission at a fee of $9,500, to include cost-sharing with the City of Great Bend. The cooperative procurement agreement begins the design phase of the Heizer Park Project. 

The commission also accepted the bid from Mid-States Fitness for seven Lemond Fitness Revmaster Pro spin bikes and pilot meter, at a cost of $10,710. The purchase allows GBRC to begin Spin Bike Fitness programs included in the spring activity guide.

The commission also approved the license renewals for Adobe software services at an amount of $7,648.56.